A Dragonslayer's Peerless Regression

[Translator - Peptobismal]

[Proofreader - Max]

Chapter 27

"The grade skip exam, you say?"

"Indeed. An outstanding cadet like you is certainly qualified to take the grade skip exam."

I had given some thought to skipping grades.

In my previous life, Reina had skipped grades and graduated early from the six-year academy program in just four years.

Howard stroked his magnificent Kaiser beard as he looked at Zeke.

"There's no need to overthink it. I'm sure you're more than capable..."

"I'll do it."

Zeke answered before Howard could even finish his sentence.

His eyes were burning with fierce determination.

'I welcome any opportunity to graduate from the academy early.'

Howard gave a satisfied smile at Zeke's answer.

"Excellent. Very well, then I'll have the grade skip exam prepared. Be sure to show us some impressive results."

Zeke nodded and left the headmaster's office.

Howard, left alone, opened a drawer and took something out of a secretly hidden safe.

It was a communication crystal ball connected to a secure line.

He turned the dial and contacted someone.

Bzzzt

Static noise erupted from the crystal ball, which only displayed a black screen.

Then, a light indicating that the connection was established came on.

Howard spoke into the receiver in a clandestine voice.

"Both Pureblood Awakeners have agreed to take the exam."

Someone on the other end of the receiver gave Howard instructions.

He listened quietly to the instructions and nodded.

"Understood. I'll make those arrangements."

As soon as Howard finished speaking, the light in the crystal ball went out.

Howard put the communication crystal ball back in the safe.

He stood up and, stroking his Kaiser beard, looked at his reflection in the window.

"Things are getting interesting."

* * *

Three days after the meeting with the headmaster, Zeke received notification about the grade skip exam.

And without even knowing what the exam entailed, he had to head to the senior cadet aura training room for the evaluation.

When he went inside, Reina Draker was already there.

She showed a burning fighting spirit towards Zeke.

After the aura evaluation test, Reina's sense of rivalry towards Zeke had grown even stronger.

Zeke tried his best to avoid Reina's gaze.

'This is tiring.'

Originally, Reina was talented enough to be recorded as one of the greatest geniuses in the academy's history.

However, because she was placed on the same level as Zeke, who should be treated as an exception, it felt like her abilities were being downplayed.

Yet, Reina herself, rather than being bothered by this, seemed to be burning with fighting spirit, considering Zeke as her rival.

As the subtle war of nerves continued between Reina and Zeke, someone entered the training ground.

Thump!

It was the instructor in charge and a knight wearing Draker's uniform.

Zeke was momentarily surprised when he saw the knight behind the instructor.

'Willow Sword?'

Willow Sword, Aoul Draker.

He was one of the few people from the Draker Clan that Zeke had a connection with before his regression.

A giant physique with a sturdy-looking body, and a large scar across his face.

Just by the aura he exuded, it was clear that he wasn't someone who would be called in for a grade exam evaluation at the academy.

The instructor in charge stepped forward and explained.

"Zeke Draker, Reina Draker. Today, your grade exam evaluation will be conducted by Sir Aoul Draker, a senior knight from the main Clan."

Reina and Zeke bowed their heads to Aoul in greeting.

Aoul simply stared at them silently without saying a word.

The instructor in charge continued his explanation.

"The exam will consist of a spar. Show us everything you've got for ten minutes.

Understood?"

Reina replied loudly, and Zeke simply nodded.

The instructor in charge asked Aoul,

"Shall we begin right away?"

Aoul nodded at the instructor's words.

He pointed to Reina first.

Reina drew her sword and stood before Aoul.

"Whew..."

The basic requirement for a senior knight of the Draker Clan was to be at least a Blue Knight.

The Blue Knight rank was just the minimum standard; each of them was a true expert with over ten years of experience in actual combat missions.

They could be considered the pillars that actually supported the Draker Clan.

As Reina took her stance, Aoul also drew his sword.

However, Aoul's sword wasn't a typical arming sword, but a unique type.

Zeke fell into thought as he saw Aoul's sword.

"They used the huandao (curved sword) of the Eastern Empire even back then."

A strange weapon with a blade only on one side.

And it was longer than a typical sword.

With Aoul's tall stature and large build, the fact that he was wielding such a large sword made him quite intimidating.

However, Reina, known as one of the most talented among the Drakers, quickly shook off the intimidation and found her pace.

She was the first to strike at Aoul.

Whoosh!

A clean thrust aimed at Aoul's thigh flew towards him.

Seeing Reina's sword flying towards him, Aoul took a step back.

Whiff!

Reina's sword pierced the air.

She immediately changed her stance and attacked Aoul with the Dragon Slayer Technique.

However, Aoul didn't swing his sword; he simply moved his body and stepped back, dodging Reina's sword.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Reina showed incredible movements for a first-year academy cadet.

But she clearly had her limits.

Aoul dodged Reina's attack and turned his body, slipping into her blind spot and placing his foot between her legs.

Thud!

"Ugh!"

With just that, Reina lost her balance and fell.

She quickly got back up and grabbed her sword.

"Huff... Huff..."

Because she had been attacking while trying to overcome Aoul's intimidation, her stamina quickly depleted, and she was already out of breath.

And at that moment, Aoul raised his sword for the first time.

Thump!

Aoul stepped forward and swung his sword.

Reina quickly raised her sword to block Aoul's sword.

Crack!

Reina, struck by the sword, was literally flung back, crashing into the wall of the training ground.

Crash!

The impact was so great that the wall of the training ground even cracked slightly.

"Ugh..."

Reina tried to get up, but her body wouldn't listen; she could only tremble.

A moment later, she lost consciousness.

The healers who were on standby quickly placed Reina on a stretcher and transported her to the infirmary.

'That's brutal.'

An unfeeling man like a stone statue, with no mercy.

He was exactly as Zeke remembered Willow Sword Aoul Draker.

Aoul returned to his original position and pointed at Zeke.

Zeke drew Bahamut and said to Aoul,

"Are there any specific evaluation criteria?"

Even at Zeke's question, Aoul didn't answer.

'He's really a difficult person to deal with.'

In Duke's case, it was easier to read his intentions.

But Aoul was like facing an ironclad tree.

Aoul was the same when Zeke encountered him in the 3rd Continental War in his previous life.

A true knight, impossible to read, but upright to a fault.

In his previous life, although Aoul was his enemy, Zeke liked him because he wasn't like the other Drakers.

'He was a person too good to die in such a trivial war.'

Zeke gripped Bahamut.

Shaking off various emotions, he pointed his sword at Aoul.

Simultaneously, his figure disappeared.

Whoosh!

Zeke used the Gale Force's Phantom Step, leaving afterimages around Aoul and surrounding him.

Shhh!Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Zeke's sword aimed for Aoul's openings.

As with Reina, Aoul twisted his body and dodged Zeke's sword.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Zeke increased the speed of his Phantom Step.

The afterimages increased from three to five.

Simultaneously, five swords aimed for Aoul's vital points.

Wooong!

Suddenly, Aoul raised his sword and blocked Zeke's sword that was aiming for his back.

Thud!

Aoul turned around and pushed Zeke's sword. Zeke deflected Aoul's sword and dodged to the side.

If he had been even a little late, he would have been flung back like Reina.

Aoul's swordsmanship contained immense power in each seemingly simple movement.

'I can't let my guard down.'

Since he couldn't reveal his full strength, Zeke had to move while controlling his power as much as possible.

However, if he showed himself to be too weak, he wouldn't pass the grade skip evaluation, so it was important to strike a balance.

Zeke stepped back and caught his breath.

Unlike with Reina, Aoul held his sword and took a ready stance.

Then he took another step forward.

Thump!

The pressure was immense, even though he had only taken a single step.

Zeke couldn't help but smile as he faced a strong opponent after a long time.

A confrontation with a strong opponent was like a gateway to a new path.

Wooong!

Zeke's sword let out a cry.

He used Phantom Step and performed the Dragon Slayer Technique.

Dragon Slayer Technique

3rd Form, 1st Verse

Half Moon Slash

The Half Moon Slash, imbued with aura, flew towards Aoul.

Thud!

Aoul tilted his sword sideways and blocked Zeke's Half Moon Slash.

Zeke used the rebound from being blocked by Aoul's sword to rotate his body.

Dragon Slayer Technique

4th Form, 1st Verse

Full Moon Slash

Immediately, Zeke's sword drew a large full moon, gathering centrifugal force, and fell towards the top of Aoul's head.

Aoul fixed his lower body and swung his sword upwards from below.

Crash!

A huge crash resounded as Zeke's Full Moon Slash clashed with Aoul's upward swing.

Zeke couldn't deflect the full impact of the upward swing and was pushed back.

'Whew... It's definitely tough while controlling my aura.'

That's when it happened.

Aoul spoke to Zeke.

"Zeke Draker."

He pointed his sword at Zeke.

"Unleash your full strength."

He had noticed that Zeke wasn't showing his full power.

At the same time, Aoul's body moved.

Whoosh!

Unlike before, he swung his sword with an aggressive stance.

Wooong!

The sword flew towards Zeke from all directions.

Clang!

Zeke raised his sword and blocked the sword.

But the attacks continued endlessly.

The sword twisted at strange angles, aiming for openings and attacking from unexpected directions.

Zeke gritted his teeth as he blocked Aoul's sword.

'He was using this strange Eastern swordsmanship even back then.'

He remembered struggling against this swordsmanship when he fought Aoul on the battlefield before his regression.

When he thought it would strike from above, it would change trajectory and come from the side, and when it came from below, it would go back up.

It was so unpredictable that it was difficult to defend against. Seeing Aoul using his full swordsmanship, Zeke thought he would have to use a bit more of his skills to pass the grade skip exam.

Wooong!

A strong vibration emanated from Zeke's body, not his sword.

Dragon Slayer Technique Application

Gale Force

Phantom Step

In an instant, Zeke's body accelerated to an invisible speed.

Wooong!

It was one of the Gale Force's applications, a technique that strengthened muscles and joints by coating the entire body in aura, increasing elasticity.

The accelerated Zeke dodged Aoul's sword and slipped inside his guard.

Whee!

Zeke's sword shot up, aiming for Aoul's vital point.

That's when it happened.

Thud!

Aoul quickly stepped back half a step, creating an opening and drawing his sword towards Zeke.

Crash!

Zeke, blocking the powerful sword with his own, was pushed back by the rebound and, like Reina, flew towards the wall of the training ground.

Rumble!

The force was so strong that Zeke crashed through the wall.

This meant the healers had to bustle about once more.

Only then did Aoul lower his sword and stare intently at Zeke as he was being transported to the infirmary.

Just then,

"You rascal! You've completely wrecked my disciple."

Duke, appearing out of nowhere, landed in front of Aoul. Aoul immediately bowed his head towards Duke.

"Greetings, Duke Draker."

"Aoul, you're still as stiff as ever."

"I'm glad to see you in good health."

"I'm someone who spends all his time playing around, so I have to be healthy at least. But more importantly..."

Duke grinned and slung an arm around Aoul's shoulder.

"So, how is he, my disciple?"

Aoul kept his mouth shut for a moment, then slowly said,

"Disqualified."

Duke was startled at his words.

"What? You're saying he's disqualified?"

Aoul shook his head.

"No. I am disqualified as an evaluator."

[Translator - Peptobismal]

[Proofreader - Max]